Stats › Annual and index returns › Best and worst years

1931 lost 43.84%, worse than 2008 by 7.29 points

1954: 52.56%+52.56%19541933: 49.98%+49.98%19331931: -43.84%-43.84%19312008: -36.55%-36.55%20081937: -35.34%-35.34%1937

1954 and 1931 are the extremes. Source: NYU Stern, Damodaran, annual returns 1928 to 2025.

The S&P 500 has produced 98 calendar year returns since 1928. The best was 1954 at plus 52.56% and the worst 1931 at minus 43.84%, seven points worse than 2008. Seventy two of the 98 finished positive, and few land near the average.

1954, +52.56%Best year
1931, -43.84%Worst year
72 of 98Positive years
9.79%Compound return

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